Join the Fight against Hunger

Written By Ashley Stalnecker

It’s not easy staying home or cancelling vacations but there’s other ways to stay engaged with your local community or the broader community. For example, there’s a long list of organizations working to help feed the homeless that you might be able to donate or volunteer with.

The Feeding America Network has 200 food banks as well as 60,000 food pantries and meal programs across the United States to support the homeless. It’s the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization that strives to use surplus food to fight food insecurity rather than create food waste.

By donating to the Feeding America Network monthly, you sign yourself on to receive information and updates on hunger issues in the United States while helping families combat hunger.

Anyone can help out by looking for local volunteer opportunities as well. Even in the face of COVID-19, it is possible to help out at your local food bank.

Service opportunities include sorting and packing shelves, assisting at mobile pantries and with no contact distributions, delivering meals, and even volunteering from home by fundraising or spreading awareness.

If homelessness abroad is of interest to you, try Bread for the World, which focuses on campaigning to end hunger both in the United States and abroad. The organization hopes to end world hunger by 2030.

You can help from the comfort of your own home. Currently, Bread for the World is running a campaign to help reduce the negative impact of the pandemic on the world’s poorest and neediest individuals.

Bread for the World has a pre-written message that anyone can fill out to send to their respective Senator or representative. The message is asking for an additional 12 billion dollars toward COVID-19 relief to ensure funding for global food and nutrition programs.

Action Against Hunger is another organization that operates globally to take action against the causes and effects of hunger.

The organization accepts donations and can help organize fundraising events, especially amid the pandemic. In some locations, Action Against Hunger is the only program operating to provide healthcare and assistance to those in need.

Donations can be made on a one-time or monthly basis.

Another global organization is The Hunger Project, which works for a sustainable end to hunger.

The organization considers those who donate as investors who are partnering with them to tackle hunger and poverty. A list of social media handles for the organization offers a way to connect with different branches of The Hunger Project all over the globe.

Freedom from Hunger operates in Africa, India and Latin America to increase food security.

The organization focuses on enabling the poor, especially women, to live without poverty or hunger. It equips the poor with the tools and education needed to continue providing for themselves even after any initial assistance with food insecurity.

Freedom from Hunger accepts donations to support its mission.

Despite difficulties and disparities that are preventing communities from being together in-person and volunteering in the traditional way, these organizations are all working hard to continue supporting the homeless.

All of them offer ways to help from the comfort of your own home and some offer a way to continue volunteering in the community but with extra safety precautions.

Consider helping a neighbor today.